Yan Krukov

26 Things I Will Always Be Grateful For, No Matter What The Future Holds

This year feels different, and maybe it’s because I am different. As I turn another year older and given what is happening around the world and at home, I thought I would take time to reflect on gratitude and how it manifests in my life. 

  1. I am grateful for the lessons of the past.
  2. I am grateful to have had the most incredible and inspiring mentors throughout these years. 
  3. I am grateful for all the people that I have crossed paths with and continue to do so, each having left a lasting impression. 
  4. I am grateful for the support system that has been built around me, keeping me afloat and nourished in the depleting spaces I have found myself in. 
  5. I am grateful for the relationships that have taught me time and time again the importance of self-love and that self-love is not selfish.
  6. I am grateful for all the opportunities I have had that allowed me to cultivate the values that have shaped who I am today. 
  7. I am grateful for the peace of the present
  8. I am grateful for the mindfulness practices that have enriched my life and the Buddhist doctrine that guides me through a lens of compassion. 
  9. I am grateful for all the love that surrounds and uplifts me every day. 
  10. I am grateful to have a father who is my role model and best friend, a mother who inspires me to be my best every day, and a brother who never lets me struggle alone. Their sacrifices continue to motivate my success. 
  11. I am grateful to the families that have been a pillar of strength for us, and to all the friends that have become my family.
  12. I am grateful for this body that enables me to do so much each and every day. 
  13. I am grateful to have spaces where I can push my physical limits, finding happiness through a release of endorphins. 
  14. I am grateful for the wilderness that surrounds me here, providing me with a serene escape for when chaos hits. 
  15. I am grateful that I live a life where my basic necessities are met and exceeded. 
  16. I am grateful for all the luxuries I have and for the ability and means to afford them. 
  17. I am grateful for the reliable means of transportation I have access to. 
  18. I am grateful to live in America, a country that provides me with increased accessibility and opportunity. 
  19. I am grateful to be a Sri Lankan American. A unique blend of fearlessness, culture, and resilience. 
  20. I am grateful to have strong ties to my Sri Lankan culture and to speak its languages. 
  21. I am grateful for the educational opportunities I have and the never ending journey of broadening my understanding of the world around me. 
  22. I am grateful for the privileges I do have and for those to come. 
  23. I am grateful that I have the ability to chase and follow my heart’s desires. 
  24. I am grateful to be alive. 
  25. I am grateful to celebrate another year of living with love, kindness, intention, and humility. 
  26. I am grateful for the possibilities of the future. 

There are so many things I am grateful for, and this year will be another year of celebrating hope, possibilities, compassion, acceptance, and love.